How to Apply for France Schengen Visa in the Philippines

It was always a childhood dream of mine to see Paris, France. Isn’t it delightful to see the sights of Champs Elysees, the smells of French bakeries, the interesting sounds of Moulin Rouge, and experience the love that envelopes the world’s romantic city? I finally got the chance to see Paris last year with my partner through a short side trip while I was visiting him in the UK. And because I have a Philippine passport, I had to acquire for a Schengen visa to travel to France. Read on how I got my France Schengen Visa in the Philippines.

What is a Schengen Visa?

As a Philippine passport holder, it is a given that we need a visa to get to anywhere outside ASEAN countries. A Schengen visa is the powerhouse visa that allows you to travel to all 25 countries in the EU area. It allows you access to the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. This makes organizing the grand Euro trip so much easier–you only need one visa to enter all aforementioned EU countries signed to the Schengen agreement.

Apply for France Schengen Visa in the Philippines

I. Preparation

1. How Much?

Visa processing fee is 60 euros, or during my time, around Php 3,080. For children ages 0-6, it is free of charge whereas minors from ages 6-11 pay 35 euros or approximately Php 2,000. Visa processing fee c/o VFS is Php 1,333. Other charges may include SMS fee for updates for Php 220 and courier fee of Php 330 if you preferred the passport to be mailed to your door.

2. When to Apply?

Applications are accepted up to three months before your travel date. You should apply for your visa as soon as you’ve finalized your travel schedule (by the way, you don’t need to buy a ticket just yet, a booked reservation will do). I recommend to apply 6-8 weeks before your travel date for enough time allowance.

3. How to Apply?

Schengen tourist visa applications should be lodged at the embassy or consulate of the country of visit. In my case, my intention was to visit France only, so I did it at the French Embassy. If you’re planning to visit several countries, you apply for your application to the country you’ll be staying the longest. If the length of stay in each destination is almost the same, you should lodge the application to the country of first entry.

*Update 1/6/16: As of December 9, 2015, all Schengen visa applications for France are already outsourced to VFS Global. For more information, you can check this link.

You can book an appointment online or via call at +63 2 790 4903. Visa applications are open from Monday to Friday at 7AM to 2PM.

4. Where to Apply?

Schengen visa applications for France are now done in VFS Global as of 12/9/2015.

II. Requirements for France Schengen Visa

Checklist of Documents to Bring on the day of your appointment:

Cover Letter. The letter must contain your travel details, purpose of your trip, and your plans to stay there, who you are traveling with, the details of your relationship with sponsor (if applicable), and the list of documents you’re about to submit to the embassy. The letter should be addressed to:THE HONORABLE CONSULEMBASSY OF FRANCE16th floor Pacific Star BldgMakati Avenue cor. Senator Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City

Printed, filled up and signedSchengen Application form (download here) with 1 photo affixed (bring 2 photos)Photograph Requirements – Most photo shops would already know the specifications needed for visa requirements-just tell them it’s for a Schengen visa. I had ours taken in Ayala Center Cebu.recent photo taken within six months

45mm x 35mm

White or cream background

Taken with nothing covering the face, without sunglasses or tinted spectacles, or a head covering unless for religious or medical reasons. The subject should have their mouth closed (no grinning, frowning or raised eye brows). Applicant should be facing forwarding, looking straight ahead.

Confirmed Booking Appointment Letter. Print the confirmed booking, which will be sent to you by VFS via email.

School / Employment Supporting Documents – provides proof of coming back to the Philippines.Student – a letter from your school or education provider confirming your enrollment and leave of absence

Business Owner – tax returns, business registration documents (stating your name as business owner)

Financial Supporting Documents – documents that prove you don’t need to work while you’re in France. This can include bank statements, pay slips, credit card statements, property titles; within the last six months or so

Trip Details must include the following:RoundtripAirfare Ticket Reservations.

Planned Itinerary, detailing what you intend to do and places you want to see during your stay in the EU areas. (Read my Suggested Itinerary: Paris France blog post to help you plan an itinerary!)

Hotel Booking or Reservations. I suggest you book your accommodations at Booking.com where booking and cancellation is free. If you are intending to stay with a friend, provide your host’s passport, national identity card, residence permit and Certificate of Board and Lodging.

Complete submission of these documents will be helpful in obtaining that visa, but does not guarantee visa issuance; but missing or incomplete supporting documents may result in a Schengen visa refusal.

III. Appointment

Next step is Appointment time. Please come on time and be prepared!

I came to VFS Center 30 minutes before appointment at 8AM, and deposited my bag to the baggage counter before coming in to VFS France. Since they weren’t that busy they had me come in immediately anyway without having to wait. I presented my documents to the counter, where the VFS pointed out I had a few missing documents. Thankfully, you can now photocopy, print, scan, use the internet, book tickets, accommodations and car rental, buy travel insurance and more at the main reception area of VFS Center through Vasco.

I was able to retrieve missing documents at Vasco and went back to VFS France, and they were quick to process them. After submitting the docs, I paid at the cashier the total amount of Php 4, they had my biometrics taken–fingerprints, photo, the works. I left the center at exactly 9:30AM, and would have finished earlier if I hadn’t been so lenient with my papers. 😉

Ecoplaza Bldg has great food choices at Eco Eats, such as Jamba Juice, Yellow Cab, Max’s, Teriyaki Boy and more. I stuffed my face here with great food–who knew visa processing can make you so hungry?

IV. Waiting Period & Results

Next is waiting time. I am impressed about how quick the processing was for my visa! I received an email that day that my visa has been dispatched to the embassy. It should look like this:

Visa application, ref no.______ has been dispatched to the France Embassy Manila on 1/11/2016 for processing.

80 thoughts on “How to Apply for France Schengen Visa in the Philippines”

The Filipino staff at the French embassy have had a reputation for being masungit way before I applied for a visa back in 2011 and I guess nothing’s changed! I was lucky to be interviewed by a woman who was strict but generally fair; some of the people in other counters weren’t so fortunate. Makes you wonder why they’re like that.

I agreed! There is only one word i can distinguished that Filipina in window 5, RUDE! she is so rude, she doesn’t act like professional.
Mas okay pa nga yun french national they are friendly and accomodating.

Hi, I hope you answer soon since I am going to have my interview first week of August and you are the only one who has same situation as I am. I live in Mindanao area and I want to ask if your authorization letter needs notarized. And was it the only thing needed for someone else getting your passport for you? Thank you so much I hope to hear from you.

No, taking the photo and biometrics does not assure that your visa is approved. You have to leave the passport there because that’s when they stamp in your visa. You will have to wait until sept 11 to know if your visa is approved or not.

Hi, thanks for the info! Lucky enough to find this blog. I just want to ask kasi this will be our first time to travel aborad. We haven’t tried even outside Luzon or outside the country. We’ll apply for 7 days Paris trip and it’s purpose is for a honeymoon travel. But by the time I am going to apply visa is I am single, and our wedding will be past two days before the trip. May conflict ba doon? Kasi I’ll be applying a visa SINGLE and If ever na approve I’ll be travelling to Paris MARRIED already. Hope to hear from you, Thanks!

Hi! Good day I am thinking to apply a tourist visa in french embassy I visit paris last Dec 13 2015 I stay 3 days and off to Spain after, now I am back here in Paris again my schengen visa issued from Spanish embassy I have twice granted schegen visa my last one will expire 25 jan 2016 it is multiple actually amd I a, planning to apply in french embassy,

My question is how long it will take if I apply short stay? Would you recommend long stay, my partner is british national, I visit london also last year. I will come back in the pholippines just to apply french visa I am still holding a phillipines passport.

Hello. Good day. Are those the requirements for the French Schengen Visa above? 😊 And do you think I can be able to get my visa immediately? Because my flight is on March 23 and my appointment is on March 14. 😭😂😊 thank you! I hope you can reply.

Helo. Im planning to apply for schengen visa france. My fiance will be my sponsor. Just wanna know all the documents needed or requirements. He will pay for everything. Hope somebody can answer my question. Tnx in advance

Good day! I am Rose. I have a french fiance. I am planning to apply for a short stay visa to get married there, I just want to ask if I will have the same requirements you have listed above. And what will be the chances for granting a visa.
Thank you… Hope to hear your reply soon.

Good Morning, I’m about to apply for Schengen visa, I have all the requirements but I am worried with one, as I don’t have ITR, I work in a travel agency, I have my COE with monthly salary, leave of absence. Do you think I’ll get refused without ITR? 😦 please helpppp. Thanks in advance

Hi your blog is very informative just got a message from them that the passport is ready for pick up at VFS office but they cant say whether it is approved or not I applied last June 3 2016 and got the message today. When you got the same message did you receive your passport the next day? Thanks and best regards

Hello, were planning to visit Paris from London. do I still need to get a visa if it is a Day tour only in Paris? if so, is it still okay to apply visa if my ticket is booked for first week of aug? Thank you!

hi my mon and niece apply for uk visa sponsored by my sister and got thier uk visa approved last sat. during the uk application they only submit one copy of sponsored document for booth of them , is it would be the same to submit only one copy from thier sponsored when applying to french schengen visa?

Hello!Your blog really informative, Thank you!
I would like to ask,.if how much do i need in my bank account (or statement of account) if I will travel France for 1 month or 3 weeks..do you have any idea how much would it range?..I know that I still need a bank statement even if i have a sponsor in France…Or Do you think 100k would be enough?I would really appreciate if answer my questions..Thank you!

May i know the how many days was the visa issued to you? I mean, are they giving exact visa duration based on your intended travel dates during application? what if plans changed and pushed back a bit?

also, do you think 80-100k is enough to cover everything for one week trip to Paris *including airfare and hostel*

Yes, that should be enough! 80-100k is pretty good already, covering everything. Also, I was given 2 week visa on my first application. on my 2nd, I was given one month and on my 3rd I was given 3 months. I think I would apply for a one-year visa on my next application 🙂

hi pretty, got my uk visa and im planning to go on a sidetrip in paris so i need to prepare same requirements again same documents submitted for uk visa? and one requirements is to book a return flight as schengen requirement,but since i alreadyhave a return ticket from ph-uk,is that okay or i need to purchcase another proof of flight reservation for france. thanks

Hello, may question is meron akong business dito sa manila pero almost one year pa lang nag ra-run and also i have boyfriend na Australian citizen and we have a daughter who lives with me, may chance po kaya na ma approve ako sa visa? Pero kompleto naman po ang requirements ko,baka ma question lang about sa boyfriend ko na hindi pa kmi kasal pero may anak na? And magkalayo kami he is working back in Australia but he is supporting us since then. Thank you po

Hello, planning to travel Europe with my cousin, I have a question…My cousin and I are unemployed (we just graduated college) and this EuroTrip is our parents’ gift for us, for the financial statement, do we give our parents’ financial statements or ours? Thank you I hope you reply, I’ve been wanting to go to Europe for 4 years and i finally have a chance….

Hello. I have a boyfriend in germany, and he invited me to go to german, i would like to apply for a schengen visa not a fiancee visa.. anyway i dont have a work here in philippines but he supported my financially. We met 4x here in phililippines as well as in Singapore. I would like to know if is it possible to get schengen tourist visa.

Question:.im planning a trip sa france and its my first time so .how can i get a shenghen visa and what documents needed if my french bf will sponsor me?and how much money needed on the savings account po?thank you and hoping for you reply..;-)

Very informative blog. I have a question though, did you also attach your train tickets from UK to France?
My parents and I got our UK visa and our hosts in the UK are planning to bring us to France, Belgium and Netherlands.

We only have the hotel reservations in France and Belgium and our round trip plane tickets from Philippines to London. Will that be enough? Or need talaga ang train tickets to France?

Thank you for this very informative blog. We are a family of 4 who wanted to visit Paris. However, upon requesting NSO for our birth certificates, one of us was not given since it cannot be located according to NSO. They said it could have been misfiled. Does anyone of you have the same experience? What can de done about this?